Iceland

Republic of IcelandLyoveldio Island

republicIndependence 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

Iceland as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalReykjavik
Area103,000 sq km
LocationNorthern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the
1995

Every edition of Iceland

Populationas each edition published it
265,998 people July 1995 est. · 257,023 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.92% 1995 est. · 0.88% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 34 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
78.98 years 1995 est. · 78.69 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.06 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.2 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 7 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$17,250 1994 est. · $17,400 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.4% 1994 est. · -3.3% in 1993

Geography

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the | North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

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Land useshare of 103,000 sq km

arable land 1%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 20%forest and woodland 1%other 78%
Area
103,000sq km
land area: 100,250 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky
Coastline
4,988km
land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Map references

Arctic Region

International disputes

Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Climate

  • temperate;
  • moderated by North Atlantic Current;
  • mild, windy winters;
  • damp, cool summers

Terrain

mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Natural resources

fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Environment

current issues:
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
natural hazards:
earthquakes and volcanic activity
international agreements:
  • party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
  • signed, but not ratified - Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Note

  • strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
  • westernmost European country;
  • more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

People

15 fields
Population
265,998
(July 1995 est.)note: population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly from official population data because of volatile migration ratesgrowth rate: 0.92% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth
15.85Death
6.7Net migration
0

Religions(1988)

Evangelical Lutheran 96%other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%none 1% (1988)
Labor force
127,900
by occupation: commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%, manufacturing 12.5%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.8%, agriculture 4.0% (1990)
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1976 est.)total population: 100%

Age structure

0-14 years:
24% (female 31,482; male 32,912)
15-64 years:
65% (female 84,559; male 87,089)
65 years and over:
11% (female 16,554; male 13,402) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
78.98 years
male:
76.69 years
female:
81.39 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.06 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Icelander(s)
adjective:
Icelandic

Ethnic divisions

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Languages

Icelandic

Government

Republic; President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980); Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

37.1%
Independence Party 37.1%Progressive Party 23.3%Social Democratic Party 11.4%Socialists 14.3%People's Movement 7.2%Women's Party 4.9%

Legislature, 63 seatsone dot, one seat

Independence 25Progressive 15Social Democratic 7Socialists 9People's Movement 4Women's Party 3

Names

conventional long form:
Republic of Iceland
conventional short form:
Iceland
local long form:
Lyoveldio Island
local short form:
Island

Type

republic

Capital

Reykjavik

Administrative divisions

23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

Independence

17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday

Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)

Constitution

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980);
  • election last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996);
  • results - there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed
head of government:
Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president

Parliament (Althing)

  • elections last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999);
  • results - Independence Party 37.1%, Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists 14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%;
  • seats - (63 total) Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Haestirettur)

Political parties and leaders

  • Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON;
  • Progressive Party, Halldor ASGRIMSSON;
  • Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON;
  • People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON;
  • Women's Party;
  • People's Movement (moderate left);
  • National Awakening, Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR

Member of

Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON
chancery:
Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
[1] (202) 265-6653 through 6655

FAX

[1] (202) 265-6656; consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:
Ambassador Parker W. BORG
embassy:
Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavik
mailing address:
US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, Reykjavik; FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone:
[354] (1) 629100

FAX

[354] (1) 629139

Flag

  • blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag;
  • the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically | capitalistic, but with an extensive welfare system, relatively low | unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income.

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GDP per capita, PPP
$17,250
(1994 est.)
Real growth rate
2.4%
(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 1.75% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate
7%
(1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$1.9 billionExpenditures
$2.1 billion (1994 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 1,070,000 kW

Electricity production
4.7 billionElectricity consumption per capita
16,458 (1993)

Overview

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with an extensive welfare system, relatively low unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In the absence of other natural resources - except energy - Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy, in recession since 1988, began to recover in 1993, posting 0.4% growth, but was still hampered by cutbacks in fish quotas as well as falling; world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Real GDP grew by perhaps 2.4% in 1994. The center-right government plans to continue its policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government, however, remains divided on the issue of EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.5 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities:
fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite
partners:
EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)

Imports

$1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles
partners:
EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)

External debt

$2.5 billion (1993 est.)

Industries

fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production, geothermal power

Agriculture

  • accounts for about 15% of GDP;
  • fishing is most important economic activity, contributing nearly 75% to export earnings;
  • principal crops - potatoes, turnips;
  • livestock - cattle, sheep;
  • fish catch of about 1.1 million metric tons in 1992

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million

Currency

1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 67.760 (January 1995), 69.944 (1994), 67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991), 58.284 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 90 in all

1
over 3,047 m
3
1,524 to 2,437 m
4
6
914 to 1,523 m
23
53
under 914 m
PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways
11,373Railroads
0
Highways: paved: 2,513 km · unpaved: gravel, earth 8,860 km (1992)

Highways

total:
11,373 km
paved:
2,513 km
unpaved:
gravel, earth 8,860 km (1992)

Ports

Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar

Merchant marine

total:
6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,025 GRT/40,410 DWT
ships by type:
cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

140,000 telephones; adequate domestic service

local:
NA
intercity:
the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links
international:
2 earth stations carry all international traffic through an Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT satellite

Radio

broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and repeaters), shortwave 0
radios:
NA

Television

broadcast stations:
202 (transmitters and repeaters)
televisions:
NA

Defense Forces

No regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note - | Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force | (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

3 fields

Branches

  • no regular armed forces;
  • Police, Coast Guard;
  • note - Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 70,743; males fit for military service 62,698 (1995 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Iceland.” The World Factbook 1995. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/iceland/1995.

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